Hello from South America

I am a craft brewer from South America, and in the past year and a half I have been devoting a great amount of time into studying the craft of distilling. I really enjoy making and tasting fine drinks.

My first contact with Absinthe was in Spain, about 8 years ago. But after that I didn't have much contact with the drink since its not easily available where I live.

I found this board and have been reading up for quite a while, and now I think its a good time to register and introduce myself.

I have plans to be in the US next June, and right now I am trying to figure out a way for me to get to Montana and meet you guys at the festival.

Glad to be here.

Junka

So I'll continue to drink really good coffee, excellent booze and use profanity in the most inappropriate places not only for my own character development but for the good of the world at large. It is the least I can do for humanity. - Joe Legate

I am trying to figure out a way for me to get to Montana and meet you guys at the festival

That would be excellent!

Welcome to the Forum.

So far its looking viable. The date coincides perfectly.I have checked with the resort and they still have rooms available. Only problem so far is that I have classes in Chicago on monday morning, and the best I found so far would only get me there at 1am on monday, which would be hard (but not impossible).

I am also expecting a reply from Gwydion Stone about the details on how to enter the competition and what are the rules / guidelines for it, so that I can figure out the last details and see if I can really attend the festival. I would really love to hear what the connoisseurs have to say about my Absinthe, just as much as I want to sample the many ones that will be available.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

So I'll continue to drink really good coffee, excellent booze and use profanity in the most inappropriate places not only for my own character development but for the good of the world at large. It is the least I can do for humanity. - Joe Legate

You could definitely learn a thing or two from the people you are likely to meet. Some distillers, and some very knowledgable on the history of the drink, but ancient and recent.

Where in South America?

I am from the southern part of Brazil.

I am pretty sure this trip would be very worth while. Not only to meet all the great people, but also to be part of the festival's first edition.

So I'll continue to drink really good coffee, excellent booze and use profanity in the most inappropriate places not only for my own character development but for the good of the world at large. It is the least I can do for humanity. - Joe Legate

Btw, I just uploaded a pic of my "babies" to my avatar.
Those are my smoked malt whiskey, my hop gin in the middle and my first absinthe to the right

So I'll continue to drink really good coffee, excellent booze and use profanity in the most inappropriate places not only for my own character development but for the good of the world at large. It is the least I can do for humanity. - Joe Legate

Importing anything to Brazil is not easy. The good news is that it has the industrial base to make a lot of things. It would be nice for quality absinthe to become popular there. Regretfully in Argentina, the crapsinthe makers have been busy. Shame because they have the ingredients to make the good stuff.
All I know of Brazil are the airports in SP, RJ, Vitoria, and some platforms in the Atlantic. I did get a quick half day tour of RJ, just enough to buy a verde-amarela shirt in Barra, a bottle of cachaça, and to see the fabled Maracana.

Welcome! Would love to taste your absinthe... and to meet you! I'm planning a trip to Argentina and Chile next winter. Are you saying absinthe is not readily available in SA? Or just in Brazil?

Absinthe is not popular, and is only viewed as the most intoxicating drink possible.Everyone thinks it should be drank straight, and the feel who don't, will probably set it on fire...

99% of the times I offer absinthe to someone here, they say:"Oh no, wont be drinking that again... it was the worse hangover I ever had"

After I tell them the myths and truths, they sample it the right way, and fall in love.

So I'll continue to drink really good coffee, excellent booze and use profanity in the most inappropriate places not only for my own character development but for the good of the world at large. It is the least I can do for humanity. - Joe Legate

Importing anything to Brazil is not easy. The good news is that it has the industrial base to make a lot of things. It would be nice for quality absinthe to become popular there. Regretfully in Argentina, the crapsinthe makers have been busy. Shame because they have the ingredients to make the good stuff.All I know of Brazil are the airports in SP, RJ, Vitoria, and some platforms in the Atlantic. I did get a quick half day tour of RJ, just enough to buy a verde-amarela shirt in Barra, a bottle of cachaça, and to see the fabled Maracana.

Yeah, importing goods into Brazil is not an easy task. Since absinthe is not famous here, importers don't even bother...

So its up to us, loving enthusiasts, to save the day and bring light and truth to those who wish to know more, but have been neglected the chance.

So far I have been succesfull with that, everyone that has tasted my absinthe said it completely changed their view about the drink. Even my mother said she loved it (and she rarely ever sips anything at all).

For me this task of shedding light into "obscure" subjects is not new, as I mentioned before I am a craft brewer, and our daily routine is to teach people about the difference between what we do, and what the big guys do.

So I'll continue to drink really good coffee, excellent booze and use profanity in the most inappropriate places not only for my own character development but for the good of the world at large. It is the least I can do for humanity. - Joe Legate

But the good thing is that not all great cachaças are expensive, in fact, many of the good ones that I enjoy making caipirinha with cost somewhere between 1/5 - 1/3 of the price of a Jhonny Walker Red Label, for example...

Seems like I will be packing heavy for the trip to the festival /wink

So I'll continue to drink really good coffee, excellent booze and use profanity in the most inappropriate places not only for my own character development but for the good of the world at large. It is the least I can do for humanity. - Joe Legate

I've heard about a big difference in cachaca between industrial and artisan distillers.

But the good thing is that not all great cachaças are expensive, in fact, many of the good ones that I enjoy making caipirinha with cost somewhere between 1/5 - 1/3 of the price of a Jhonny Walker Red Label, for example...

These are the brands available to me locally: Boca Loca, Cuca Fresca Aged Gold, Leblon, and Pirissununga. Can you comment on them (I love a good caipirinha)? Don't be shy about saying they all suck, as my local liquor stores are pathetic when it comes to many things. Since I buy absinthe online, I can always add cachaca to my online purchases.